If you’re a small business owner who also happens to be a devout American Airlines loyalist, moving your business spending onto an American Airlines business credit card seems like a logical next step.
However natural it might seem to take the step of opting for an American Airlines business credit card, it’s crucial to first get all of the necessary information to make sure that one of these credit cards is, in fact, the right choice for you.
That’s what we’re here for.
This article was made to be the ultimate resource for business owners contemplating using an American Airlines business credit card to access rewards for their business travel.
From details on all three of the American Airlines business credit cards to all the logistics on their top competitors, here’s all you need to know to make the right choice for you and your business.
TL;DR: The Rundown on the American Airlines Business Credit Cards
Don’t have time to comb through all of the details on the American Airlines business credit cards? No problem—we’ve condensed all of the most pertinent details into one summary section here:
The American Airlines business credit cards with the top rewards rates and perks are the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard and the Citibusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select. They offer 2x miles for every dollar you spend on American Airlines purchases, 2x miles for purchases within certain business spending categories, and 1x miles on everything else. They also offer pretty stellar travel perks like priority boarding and a free checked bag for you and four travel companions.
Trailing behind these two American Airlines business credit cards is the Citibusiness/AAdvantage Select Card—with only 1x flat rate miles for every dollar you spend, plus relatively limited perks, this option doesn’t quite stack up.
In this article, we also explore the details on the top three business travel cards to see how American Airlines business credit cards stack up against them.
All in all, when measured against the rewards and perks that come with the American Express Platinum Charge Card, the Chase Ink Business Preferred, and the Capital One Spark Miles for Business and the American Airlines business credit cards ultimately pale in comparison.
The 3 American Airlines Business Credit Cards
First and foremost, you’re here to learn about the business credit cards that American Airlines offers. As such, let’s first take some time to establish all of the facts on what the three business credit cards they carry have to offer.
Here are all the details on the Aviator, the Select, and the Platinum Select American Airlines business credit cards:
The AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard
First up on the list of American Airlines business credit cards is a Barclays Card, the AAdvantage Aviator Business Mastercard.
With this business travel card, you’ll access the following travel rewards rates for your business spending:
- 2 miles for every dollar you spend on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2 miles for every dollar you spend on select telecom, office supply purchases, and car rentals
- 1 mile for every dollar you spend on anything else
- No limit to how many miles you can earn
- $3,000 Elite Qualifying Dollars when you spend $25,000 annually
- 5% anniversary mile bonus
Plus, you’ll be able to access some perks that won’t rely on how much you spend with your card. No matter how much you invest in your business, the Aviator Business Mastercard will grant you the following perks:
- Free first checked bags for you and up to 4 companions on domestic flights
- Preferred boarding for you and up to 4 travel companions
- 25% off of in-flight purchases
- Access to American Airlines’ MileSAAVer Program
The Citibusiness/AAdvantage Select Card
The second American Airlines business credit card to learn about is the Citibusiness/AAdvantage Select Card. Unlike the Aviator Business Mastercard, this American Airlines business credit card is issued by Citi Bank’s business arm, Citibusiness.
With this business credit card, you’ll earn an unlimited 1x travel rewards for every dollar you spend. Beyond these flat-rate miles that you’ll earn on your spending, you’ll also have access to the following perks:
- Access to American Airlines’ MileSAAVer Program
- A 25% discount on all in-flight purchases
- Free employee cards
The Citibusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Card
The final of the three American Airlines business credit cards is the Citibusiness/AAdvantage Platinum Select Card.
The Platinum Select Card is essentially a scaled-up version of its Select counterpart. Let’s take a look at its ramped up rewards rates:
- 2 miles for every dollar you spend on eligible American Airlines purchases
- 2 miles for every dollar you spend on select business categories like gas stations, telecommunications, and car rentals
- 1 mile for every dollar you spend on anything else
Plus, along with all the perks that the Select offers, the Platinum version of this card features a few perks that the Select version doesn’t:
- Access to American Airlines’ MileSAAVer Program
- A 25% discount on all in-flight purchases
- Free first bag checked for you and up to 4 travel companions
- Preferred boarding
- No foreign transaction fees
The Best Alternatives to the American Airlines Business Credit Cards
Having covered all that the American Airlines business credit cards can offer frequent fliers, it’s crucial to see how they stack up against their top competitors.
Here are some of the very best business travel rewards cards on the market, the top three alternatives to the American Airlines business credit cards:
The American Express Platinum Charge Card
The American Express Platinum Charge Card is top-of-the-line when it comes to luxury business travel perks.
When you sign on as a Platinum cardholder, you’ll get to invest in your business knowing that you’re taking advantage of the following travel rewards rates:
- 5 travel points for every dollar you spend on hotels and flights booked through Amextravel.com
- 1.5 rewards points for every dollar spent on eligible purchases of $5,000 or more, for up to 1 million additional points each year
- 1 point for every dollar you spend otherwise
These rewards rates might seem nice, but you’ll be even more excited to learn about the Platinum’s travel perks (here are some highlights):
- A $200 credit to your airline of choice
- An annual TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- Hilton Honors Status
And, finally, when you sign on as a Platinum cardholder, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus of up to 75,000 points. When you spend $10,000 with your Platinum card, you’ll earn 50,000 points. And if you spend that much and do it quickly—within three months—you’ll earn an additional 25,000 points.
All that said, the Platinum card does come with one unavoidable downside—its annual fee is a whopping $450. To be sure, all of the perks and rewards this card offers will add up to be worth far more than $450 a year. However, if you weren’t planning on investing in the travel perks in the first place, $450 a year can be a very powerful deterrent from getting this business credit card.
The Chase Ink Business Preferred
Another top competitor of the American Airlines business credit cards is the Chase Ink Business Preferred. One of the main draws of this travel rewards business credit card is that it offers perhaps the most generous welcome bonuses on the entire market.
When you sign on as an Ink Preferred cardholder, you’ll have the opportunity to earn a staggering 80,000 bonus points if you spend $5,000 during your first three months with the card. If you redeem these points through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, your bonus will be worth $1,000 worth of travel.
Not to mention, this card comes with some pretty stellar sustained rewards, as well. When you spend with the Ink Preferred, you’ll be earning the following rewards rates:
- 3x points for every dollar up to an annual $150,000 that you spend on select categories like:
- Travel
- Shipping purchases
- Advertising purchases made with search engines and social media sites
- Internet, cable, and phone services
- 1x point for every dollar you spend outside of these categories with no limits on what you can earn
Be sure to note that the Ink Preferred will come with an annual fee of $95, which isn’t cheap. That said, if you stack up this fee against your welcome bonus of up to $1,000 of travel, it seems like small change.
The Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Last but not least on our list of the top competitors of the American Airlines business credit cards is the Capital One Spark Miles for Business, one of the most straightforward, lucrative travel rewards business credit cards out there.
When you spend with the Spark Miles, you’ll get an even, unlimited 2x miles for every dollar you spend, no matter what. With the Spark Miles, there are no cap or categories, just earning all the time.
Plus, you’ll also be able to access a hefty welcome bonus with the Spark Miles if you’re the right kind of spender. Just spend $4,500 during your first three months with the card, and you’ll earn 50,000 bonus miles. Not to mention, for your first year with the Spark Miles, your annual fee of $95 will be waived. This first, fee-free year is the perfect test run to see if the card’s perks will make up for its annual fee.
The way we see it?
With its flat-rate, unlimited return on spending, there’s really no way the miles you earn with your Spark Miles card won’t out measure its annual fee.
The Bottom Line for the American Airlines Business Credit Cards
So, as you’ve probably gathered with all of the information laid out in front of you, there are a lot better options for your business than the American Airlines business credit cards.
Though it’s enticing to consolidate your rewards to one airline to make sure you optimize your rewards, you’ll actually be able to earn even more rewards even with business travel cards that aren’t airline specific.
Our advice is to start spending with one of these three top travel rewards business credit cards that aren’t airline specific and spend your miles on whichever airline offers your business the best deal.
Want more options? Find the best credit card for you with our handy quiz.
The post American Airlines Credit Cards: Which Is Right for Your Business? appeared first on Fundera Ledger.
from Fundera Ledger https://www.fundera.com/blog/american-airlines-business-credit-card
No comments:
Post a Comment